Bludov Chateau

A stronghold was established in the place probably in the 1570s. The founder was Lord Jan z Boskovic. After The Battle of White Mountain (1620), the Bludov Manor was confiscated and given to Kryštof Pavel of Liechtenstein who rebuilt the stronghold into a Late Renaissance château. Later, the château was rebuilt in Baroque architectural forms.

In 1710, the building was sold to the House of Žerotín (Zierotin), who owns it till today. Bludovský zámek became Žerotín’s permanent residence when Karel Ludvík, the house member, sold the Velké Losiny château in 1802 because of financial problems. Žerotín’s library, picture gallery, archives, and a collection of weapons were moved as well.

Although Žerotín family was of Czech origin, they registered as Germans during the Nazi occupation, therefore the castle was confiscated in 1945, yet in 1950, the then Regional national committee in Brno returned Czech citizenship to Mrs Helena Žerotínová, arguing that she acted under the pressure of occupation during the war.[4]

Château rooms were used as a post office, library and municipal office during the communist dictatorship, therefore some rooms were reconstructed to fit more its new purpose; unfortunately reconstructions did not respect original historical character of te building.

The château was returned during the 1990s[5] to the members of Slovak stem of Žerotíns, the Mornstein-Zierotin family.[6][7]

The public library was moved to a local school, the municipal office was moved to another school’s building. The post office was moved to a local shopping centre.

The château is now used as the Mornstein-Zierotin family residence, that offers accommodation service and manages their estate property. Baroque hall is used for ceremonial purposes like weddings and concerts of classical music.[8] English park is in the neighbourhood, with many valued, exotic and ancient trees, of which the oldest linden is over 600 years old.[9]

• Bludov Castle